Thursday, December 24, 2009

Where should you donate your car?

Car Donation Drop-off Day is on December 30, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Good News Garage (Vermont) will accept any car, truck or van, with its Title,delivered to our 331 North Winooski Avenue location in Burlington. All donations are tax deductible.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Vermont Staff Prepare for Car Donation Drop-off Day -- December 30th.

Receptionist, Halley Snelling, and auto technician, Derek Joyce, share a smile as they prepare for Car Donation Drop-off Day. We will be open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. that Wednesday. Submit your car donation online anytime or call us toll-free at 877.448.3288.

Good News Garage has programs in NH, CT, RI, MA and VT!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Car Donation Drop-off Day is coming up!

We are preparing for Car Donation Drop-off Day on December 30. Volunteer Craig Bethiaume came in an help create the yard signs that we will be posting around Chittenden County. Thanks Craig!

I am still looking for volunteers to bake cookies to give to car donors when they drop off their car donation. Are there any bakers out there willing to lend a hand?

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tomorrow we will award the cars Hendrickcars.com donated to us

If you want to join us for the awarding of the Chevy Impalas that were given to us on the Oprah Winfrey Show, come down to the garage located at 331 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. The ceremony will go from 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM. Hope you can make it!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Seventh Generation is a Great Company!

A few months a go, a recipient arrived to pick up her car. She had a child with her that needed a diaper change. She reached in her diaper bag and discovered she did not have any dipers with her. On that day we decided to set up a nice changing area here with all the products a parent would need.

We posted a list of things that we needed to make this happen and contacted Seventh Generation. A women in Essex donated the changing table and Seventh Generation donated packs of every size diaper they make and many boxes of wipes.


Zoey, the girl pictured here, is the first person to benefit from these gifts. She and her parents appreciated the donations.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Volunteers in Vermont

I want to thank all the volunteers who make what we do in Vermont possible. Colleen Manning and Kathy Ploof have been coming in every week to assist me in the marketing and fundraising. I truily could not do it without their help.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Northeast Real Estate Conference & Expo

I am at the Northeast Real Estate Conference today. The event is in the Sheraton Hotel of South Burlington. We are here to talk to realtors about Good News Garage (GNG). We are making sure they know GNG accepts any donated car, truck or van in Vermont.

There are two great Good News Garage volunteers with me, John Simson and Kathy Ploof. Later Bill Kelley will be at the table. We will be here tomorrow too. Volunteers Jill Mason, Wendy Steager and Craig Berthuaime will be providing information about our car donation program at our booth.

If you are attending, stop by and pick up a free Good News Garage keychain. If you aren't coming to the event and you would like a free keychain, stop by the Good News Garage office at 331 North Winooski Avenue.

Carmen
cgeorge@goodnewsgarage.org

Monday, July 20, 2009

Good News Garage Will Provide Ten Donated 2008 Chevy Impalas To People In Need.

As you may have heard, Rick Hendrick owner of Hendrick Motorsports generously donated ten beautiful 2008 Chevy Impalas for Good News Garage to provide to working people in need. These people must live in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Vermont.

The donated cars are worth $18,000. This is more than the most cars we normally receive, that is why we are having a special application process. We want to make sure the cars are given to people who can afford the insurance and taxes on each car.

If you or someone you know wants to apply for one of these donated cars, you may download an application off Good News Garage's website right now. The deadline for submission is Friday, August 21st. The cars will be award in September and October.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Hal Colston's Vision Honored On Oprah Winfrey Show and by Rick Hendrick


Millions watched on television on May 19th as Good News Garage's visionary founder Hal Colston was honored on The Oprah Winfrey Show/People Magazine Exclusive: Heroes In Hard Times.

During the show, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrikcars.com, best known for his winning NASCAR team, surprised everyone by donating 10 lightly used Chevy Impalas and $10,000! Hal was stunned, and the staff of Good News Garage, Lutheran Social Services, and Neighborkeepers are overjoyed by this tremendous gift.

We will post more about Hendrick's incredible gift after we get over the shock.

Hal was in the audience at Champlain College, after the show he graciously answered questions about Lutheran Social Services/Good News Garage, Neighborkeepers and what it was like to meet Oprah Winfrey. It was a wonderful dialogue. Hal was his usual humble and inspiring self.

Two of the cars donated by Hendrick will be provided to people in need through Hal's new program, Neighborkeepers.

If you missed the Oprah Winfrey Show, here is a link to watch it online. http://www.oprah.com/media/20090416-tows-good-news-garage

WPTZ channel 5 also create a great peice about Hal Colston. http://www.wptz.com/news/19491220/detail.html

Sponsors of the viewing party were Champlain College and Chittenden Bank

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Champlain College Host Viewing Party To Watch Hal Colston and Good News Garage on Oprah Winfrey Show

Hal Colston, Good News Garage's founder, will be on the Oprah Show talking about Good News Garage and his newest non-profit Neighborkeepers. Hal is an adjunct professor at Champlain College. They will be hosting a party to watch the airing of Oprah Show on Tuesday, May 19th. This is free and open to public. Seating starts at 3:30 PM, the show starts at 4:00 PM in Alumni Auditorium. There will be a Q & A with Hal after the meeting. Good News Garage staff will be carpooling over to the event. There should be plenty of parking since the students are on break.

Special thanks to Champlain College for generously hosting this event.

This photo

Friday, January 23, 2009

Martin Luther King's Day of Service










Thank you to the twelve hard-working volunteers who helped us recycle and clean on Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day of Service. We also thank CEDO AmericorpVista for organizing the day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ...your extra hands really made a difference.






Friday, January 16, 2009

Volunteer here at Good News Garage on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On Tuesday, January 19th from 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM. You are welcome to participate in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day by helping Good News Garage serve those in need.

Michael Muzzy, GNG's Director and Paul Boone, Ready To Go's Program Manager, will be
working along side those who volunteer at our 331 North Winooski Ave. Office in Burlington, VT.